US President Donald Trump, who has vociferously criticised US immigration policies, has called for reforms to implement a "merit-based" immigration system.
"I believe that real and positive immigration reform is possible, as long as we focus on the following goals: to improve jobs and wages for Americans, to strengthen our nation's security, and to restore respect for our laws," he said in his first address to a joint session of Congress.
Trump said on Tuesday night the current US system of "lower-skilled" legal immigration failed to protect workers and cited systems used in Canada and Australia.
"It is a basic principle that those seeking to enter a country ought to be able to support themselves financially. Yet, in America, we do not enforce this rule, straining the very public resources that our poorest citizens rely upon," he said.
He said a merit-based system would save money, raise wages "and help struggling families - including immigrant families - enter the middle class".
